UDA squabbles rock Nairobi County Assembly
Squabbles among United Democratic Alliance (UDA) allied Members of the County Assembly (MCA) has in intensified in Nairobi after Speaker Kennedy Ng’ondi refused to implement a change of leadership in the Minority side.
UDA’s International Dispute Resolution Committee had earlier announced the removal of Waithaka MCA Anthony Kiragu from the Minority leadership position and his Umoja 1 counterpart Mark Mugambi from the Minority Whip seat.
In arriving at the decision, the Speaker ruled that he will not allow the changes before the affected members had been handed a fair hearing and representation while enforcing the observance of the Constitution, the Standing Orders, and procedures and practices of the House.
The Speaker further explained that the party did not use the right procedure to present a letter of effecting the chances, hence contradicting the provisions of Standing Orders 23(9), which dictates that in such circumstances, the Whip or Deputy Whip in absence of the Whip shall communicate to the Speaker in writing the decision, attached with the minutes of the meeting and the venue.
While overruling the UDA Party decision, the Speaker said the communication failed to present evidence that sufficient notice of removal was issued to the accused, the response from the accused, and that there were no evidence to show that the meeting was properly convened.
The Speaker’s decision was criticised by a section of MCAs who accused him of taking sides in the matter.
“This Speaker will go down to history as the worst Speaker in all the county assemblies that have been here in Nairobi…the judgment from IDRC is very clear, and the Speaker is not acting as a referee. But he has already taken sides,” said South B ward MCA Waithera Chege, who vowed to table a substantive motion to discuss the Speaker’s character.
On the other end, embattled Minority leader Mr Kiragu lauded the Speaker’s ruling, stating that the law must be followed to the later.
Mr Kiragu claimed the attempt to kick him out is an effort from his political enemies who are now seeking to create divisions within the Party to ascend to leadership positions.
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